A beautifully illustrated history of Britain’s most revered and valued institution: the NHS.

In March 2020 the UK went into lockdown to help contain the spread of COVID-19 and protect the NHS from one of the greatest threats that it has faced in its 72-year history. Today more than ever, all eyes are on this beloved institution as it continues to innovate and adapt to meet the challenges of providing national healthcare in the modern world.

In this fully illustrated introduction, Dr Susan Cohen traces the history of the NHS from its establishment after the Second World War, through seven decades of changing management and organisation, often in controversial political circumstances, right up to the current COVID-19 crisis. Including personal recollections from healthcare professionals on the frontline, as well as the patients in their care, this important and timely volume offers a comprehensive overview of one of the world’s most remarkable healthcare systems.